Bayern striker Lukas Podolski was called back to the German national squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Germany coach Joachim Loew said on Thursday.

Loew named a 23-man German squad for their next batch of World Cup qualifiers. There are returns for Arne Friedrich, Marcell Jansen and Lukas Podolski.

"It is great that Lukas is playing again for Bayern," Loew said.

"Quite independently from that though, we would have selected him for both the upcoming internationals. We've always said that as soon as Lukas regained his training rhythm, then he would be a valuable striker for us, " he added.

On March 28, Germany will play minnows Liechtenstein in Leipzig before taking on Wales in Cardiff on April 1. All three of the afore mentioned players missed the recent friendly defeat at the hands of Norway due to injury.

Hanover goalkeeper Robert Enke also gets a recall after being unavailable since October 2008 following a hand injury. Three goalkeepers have been selected by Jogi Loew, with Rene Adler and Tim Wiese the others.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2009)